Cooling unit for refrigerators



Sept. 24, 1929. H S E 1,729,403

COOLING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed June 5, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 24, 1929.

Filed I June 1928 F. G. SLAGEL- COOLING UNIT FOR REFRIGERAT ORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wil II .I I

@W fi a fi attoznuq S Sept. 24, 1929. F. c. SLAGEL COOLING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed June 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 24, 1929.

v F. G. SLAGEL COOLING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed June 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 24, 1929. F. G. SLAGEL 1,729,403

COOLING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS' Filed June 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gvvuvnto'p 29 $462,, a

6cm new;

Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANKLIN G. SLAGEL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, IN C. OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK COOLING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATOR-S Application filed June 5, 1928. Serial No. 282,951.

This invention relates to that class of cooling units for refrigerators which are placed in the path of the air to be cooled and therefore become coated with ice.

It is the object of this invention to provide a unit of this character 'which has a greater heat absorbing surface and therefore greater capacity, which has greater strength and durability and capable of being handled without liability of being damaged, and which can be placed close to the top or bottom 'of the cooling compartment and thus secure.

the maximum radiating eflect without liability of cutting off or interfering with the circulation of air in the cooling-compartment.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a refrigerator cooling unit embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section of the same taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 44, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5, Figure 2.

Figure 6 isa perspective view of one of the radiating fiues.

In the following description similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The numeral 10 represents a metal vaporizing chamber-header or manifold adapted to contain the refrigerant and arranged in the upper part ofthe space or compartment to be cooled.

Below this chamber are arranged the means which absorb the heat from the surrounding space and which consist generally of a plurality of metal loops communicating with the vaporizing chamber and a plurality of metal air circulating and heat absorbing fiues mounted on the loops.

In the preferred construction two longitudinal rows of transverse loops are arranged on opposite sides of the vaporizing chamber and extend downwardly therefrom and a plurality of longitudinal sets of longitudinal oops are arranged between the rows of transverse loops but spaced fromone another and extending downwardly from the vaporizing chamber.

Each of the transverse loops has two upright sections 12, 13 arranged transversely in cal longitudinal center thereof. The lower ends of the transverse loops of each longitudinal row are held against displacement relatively to each other by bracing or retaining means consisting preferably of a longitudinal brace bar 17 provided at intervals with clips 18 which embrace the horizontal lower sections of the several transverse loops, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5.

Each set of longitudinal loops comprises a wide outer loop and a narrow inner loop arranged centrally within the companion outer loop. Each outer longitudinal loop is comparatively long but terminates above the lower ends of the transverse loops and comprises two upright sections 19, 19 spaced comparatively far apart and arranged adjacent to opposite ends of the vaporizing chamber, a lower longitudinal horizontal section 20 connecting the lowerends of the upright sections, and inwardly inclined upper sections 21 con necting the upper ends of the upright secends of the upright sections 22, an inwardly inclined up or sections 24-connecting the upper ends 0 these upright sections with the underside of the vaporizing chamber on one side of the vertical longitudinal central plane of the same.

By this organization and arrangement of loops a large area is obtained and the some are distributed in a manner which produces a greater absorption of heat from the surrounding atmosphere.

For the purpose of increasing the radiating, conducting or absorbing effect of this cooling unit, air circulating and heat absorbing flues are mounted on the loops which form an extension of the heat absorbing area and transmit the heat to the refrigerant in the loops. These flues are preferably constructed in the form of upright metal tubes of rectangular form in horizontal section and arranged to form two longitudinal rows and the members of each row being mounted on the transverse and longitudinal loops on one side of the vaporizing chamber.

Each of these heat absorbing flues, in its preferred form, comprises two upright transverse walls 25 engaging with the opposing sides of the upright and inclined upper sections of two adjacent transverse loops, an inner longitudinal upright wall 26 connecting the inner edges of the transverse walls 25 and engaging with the adjacent parts of the longitudinal loops on the corresponding side of the vaporizing chamber, and an outer longitudinal upright wall 28 connecting the outer edges of the respective transverse walls of this tubular flue. The walls of this flue may be connected with the adjacent loops by solderng or in any other suitable manner so as to ensure the maximum transmission of heat from the flue walls to the loops.

The flues of each longitudinal row are spaced apart from one another, this being accomplished by mounting such flues between successive pairs of transverse loops in each longitudinal row. As a result each flue is virtually exposed over its entire external and internal surface to the atmosphere in the cooling compartment of the refrigerator and thereby presents the maximum heat absorbing area in said compartment.

Moreover, by separating these flues from each other by intervening spaces, any ice forming on the exterior of these fines is not liable to fill or bridge these spaces but instead leaves them open and thus maintains the greatest heat absorbing area.

The upper and lower ends 27, 29 of the transverse walls of each flue are preferably extended beyond the upper and lower ends of the inner and outer longitudinal walls of the same, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, so as to further increase the heat absorbing area of the same.

In order, however, to prevent cutting off or interfering with the free flow of air in the cooling compartment in case this cooling unit is placed close to the top or bottom of the compartment, the inner and outer corners of the transverse walls of the cooling unit are cut off at an angle, as shown at 30 in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, thereby permitting free circulation of air around the cooling unit at all times.

In addition to increasing the heat absorbing effect the flues increase the strength of the cooling unit and render the same more durable and capable of being handled freely with.

out liability of being injured during transportation or while being installed.

I claim as my invention 1. A cooling unit for refrigerators comprising a vaporizing chamber, a plurality of transverse refrigerant loops arranged transversely of said chamber and connected therewith; and a plurality of longitudinal refriger ant loops arranged lengthwise of said chamher and connected therewith and comprising a comparatively Wide long outer loop and a comparatively narrow short inner loop arranged within said outer loop.

2. A cooling unit for refrigerators comprising a vaporizing chamber, a plurality of transverse refrigerant loops arranged transversely of said chamber and connected therewith; a plurality of longitudinal refrigerant loops arranged lengthwise of said chamber and connected therewith and comprising a comparatively wide long outer loop and a comparatively narrow short inner loop arranged within said outer loop; and bracing means connecting the lower ends of said transverse loops.

3. A cooling unit for refrigerators comprising avaporizing chamber, a plurality of longitudinal rows of transverse loops arranged on opposite sides of the vertical longitudinal center of said chamber and connected at their upper ends therewith; and a plurality of sets of longitudinal loops arranged between the rows of transverse loops and each set comprising an outer large loop connected with said chamber and an inner small loop arranged within the large loop and connected with said' chamber.

4. A cooling unit for refrigerators, comprising a vaporizing chamber; a plurality of transverse loops arranged in a longitudinal row of pairs and connected with said chamber; a plurality of upright air circulating and heat absorbing flues, each arranged between a pair of said loops and having transverse walls engaging said loops, and longitudinal walls connecting the inner and outer ends of said transverse walls; and a set of longitu dinal loops engaging the inner longitudinal walls of said fines and consisting of a long and wide outer loop connected with the ends of said chamber and a short narrow inner loop arranged within the boundaries of said outer loop and connected with the centralpart of said chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

FRANKLIN G. SLAGEL. 

